Ten years ago, if you had asked Sheila Backlund—owner and operator of Backlund Acres Co-op—what she thought her Belle Plaine agriculture operation would look like today, she would have never described the hills of vibrant produce and happy livestock that pepper the land. As Scott County urbanizes, residents have developed clever ways to incorporate agricultural practices in spaces shared with neighborhoods and downtown districts through the process of urban agriculture. Sheila is a walking example of this phenomenon.
What is Urban Agriculture?
Urban agriculture includes the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas. Urban ag aims to build healthy communities, conserve our valuable natural resources, and provide quality products locally. Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production, are all examples of urban agriculture. Tribal communities and cities may also be included.
Urban farmers help change the way people look at what and how they eat by strengthening the connection between where food is grown and where it’s eaten. Our urban farmers are also practicing conservation. These local operations reduce the need for long-distance transport resources and create more green spaces within our urban and suburban areas.
Urban Conservation in Motion
Sheila Backlund and her family initially moved from Shakopee to Belle Plaine to help friends manage their cattle and chicken operation. Sheila pivoted from livestock to vegetables in 2019, and with the help of friends and family was able to co-found Backlund Acres co-op which she still manages today. The Co-op focuses on providing fresh, locally grown vegetables to members on a weekly basis. Everything from eggs, pork, carrots, corn, cucumbers, and much more is grown with the goal of inspiring the community to eat local and gain a deeper connection to the food they eat.
“We didn’t know much about farming when we first started, but we knew we wanted to work with the land and give the animals and vegetables we raised the best conditions possible,” Sheila elaborates.
Today, the co-op serves over 100 members of the community directly and partners with restaurants in Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Jordan.
Sustainability and conservation are always at the forefront of Sheila’s operation. Last summer, Sheila was researching opportunities to expand her vegetable operation and came across the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) high tunnel program. High tunnels, commonly called “hoop houses” are best described as greenhouses with soil for a floor. They protect plants from severe weather and allow farmers to extend growing seasons, control water delivery and nutrients, and prevent pests.
Sheila installed two high tunnels on her own and—since working with NRCS technicians—has installed an two more, giving her an additional 5,760 square feet to grow vegetables.
In the coming years, Sheila hopes to continue working with NRCS and expand her chicken operation to incorporate a new sustainable agriculture technique called “tree-range” that uses chickens to fertilize Minnesota-Native chestnut trees. The process aids the land at all levels by reducing the need for excess fertilizers and nutrients to grow the nitrogen-dependent trees, allowing the chickens room to roam, and providing native tree cover to the land. Sheila plans to also feed the excess chestnut seeds to her pigs. Innovative techniques like “tree-range” help propel agriculture forward in both rural and urban settings.
When asked what motivated Sheila to continue and expand her operation, she credits both the joy of learning and connecting with others. “None of this would be possible without the help of our community,” she says. “Our co-op members help in the greenhouse and our friends and neighbors are always there to lend a hand or answer questions.”
Programs to Support Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture is dynamic and customizable. If you have land that could incorporate an agricultural program, there are programs to help.
NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for small scale and urban growers in areas such as:
Soil health
Irrigation and water conservation
Composting
Wildlife/Pollinator habitat
The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) also has programs to assist producers with a wide range of conservation projects including:
Whole farm planning
Pollinator habitat installation
Cover crops
Wildlife habitat restoration
For more information on available programs, or to schedule an appointment with staff, call the Scott SWCD office at 952-5492-5425 or the Scott County NRCS office at 612-607-0211.
You can also view details on NRCS-specific programs for things like high-tunnels, irrigation systems, cover crops, wildlife habitat plantings, organics conversion, and more at nrcs.usda.gov/resources.
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